A Sweet Summer Night with Summer Fling

The anticipation could be felt in the air that evening as time ticked closer to Summer Fling’s, the funk-rock band based out in New York City, performance on the Our Wicked Lady stage. The excitement only intensified with each preceding act from the rocking Ok, Tyler, whose lyrics dive into themes of coming-of-age such as heartache, doubt, hope, and more, followed by Thesaurus Rex's theatrical performance of their narrative-driven songs.

Summer Fling’s discography, consisting of elements from funk, jazz, pop, and rock, uniquely diversified from anyone else, creating music and live sets that allow their audience to dance, sing, and liberate themselves from any worry. As soon as Summer Fling appeared on stage, dressed in heartbreak jerseys and sailor hats, and the lead singer, Eddie Kam, wearing glitter pants, it was evident that the night would transcend all expectations. 

Summer Fling has this impressive ability to captivate the audience. The band and fans are deeply immersed in the present, making live sets feel as if they are a little world that only exists in that very moment. Even during moments when someone was not actively playing, their presence continued to electrify the stage, such as the horn section occasionally engaging in choreography. As an audience member, you can feel that every band member shares a love for music, performing, the band, and each other. All of this was clear during the specs of moments where they each had a chance to showcase their unique talents and the other members would take this time to sit on the ground to spotlight their peers further. The relationship between the band members extends beyond most, creating a remarkable balance of partnership and friendship. This dynamic is particularly evident during a bit when Kam and the horn section would mimic one another; Kam would sing a tune that the horn section would recreate, creating these fun spectacles sonically and visually.

Kam’s performance as a frontman is mesmerizing, as he has this natural charisma that entices the audience, reminding me of Elton John and David Bowie with vibrant attire accompanied by an exuberant attitude as he commands the audience, making him a frontman that you truly can’t compare anyone to. Throughout the set, Kam showcases his range from low to extremely high vocals with such ease. As you watch the room, all you can observe is everyone singing every word, even the complex horn section parts demonstrating a fan base that has become dedicated to the art they are creating. 

Summer Fling goes above and beyond a typical show; they put on a performance that immerses the audience, evoking laughter, dance, and sing-alongs that have created a community amongst people, including the audience by singing covers, leaving the stage abd playing in the audience, and even creating bits that allow the audience to feel as if they are in on an insider secret that can only be achieved by going to every show. Summer Fling makes their live performance a priority, delivering sets that are unforgettable and leaving the audience eagerly anticipating the next one.

Check out and follow Summer Fling's socials for more music and show announcements and stream there recent album release, Summer Fling Strikes Out!

Written and Photographed by Veronica Anaya

Bad Daddy LongLegs!

Longlegs is dark and atmospheric, catching me off guard from what I expected based on its marketing. It unfolds like a chilling police procedural mixed with eerie tones of Silence of the Lambs and The Exorcist III. I am neutral regarding slow burns, but the gradual buildup of dread throughout the film is incredibly effective. Director Oz Perkins ensures every set design is hauntingly beautiful. The choice of how much of Nicholas Cage to reveal to sign empty spaces for suspense enhanced the film and had me questioning as the movie progressed. The simple camera movements with tense scores and sharp sounds made my heart race. Maika Monroe delivers my favorite performance of hers to date. Monroe portrays Lee Harker with awkwardness, fear, and determination. She's an underrated horror heroine. Nicholas Cage shines as well in this unhinged and terrifying character. It's also refreshing to see Alicia Witt in a horror role and delivering a stone-cold preference as Lee's religious mother. 

In the film, a series of murders occur six days before or after the 14th of each month and coincide with a daughter's 9th birthday in each family. These killings are done by the father with no sign of an intruder but are always accompanied by a coded letter with the sign "LONGLEGS". The protagonist, Agent Lee Harker, is drawn into this disturbing pattern. Oz Perkins skillfully builds an eerie atmosphere that intensifies as Harker delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding the murders, culminating in a climax with much anxiety in the film's final act. I think Longlegs is a powerful story about family trauma, mainly how it affects children even after their family falls apart.

The production design was probably my favorite thing about this film. All the walls were dark and wooden, with very gray coloring that fits the story, so each setting connects and nothing feels out of place. I enjoy how it captures rural northern America. It makes me not want to take a road trip up there, especially at night. The film is just so visceral and original with its cult religious elements that may scare audiences depending on growing up religious, which can play questioning one's upbringing and remembering fears they once had tied to religion. Even when something scary was not happening on screen, it was still palpable, and you can feel the anxiety that Lee has because you don't know where this case might lead.    

This film is a meaningful addition to the horror genre. As someone who watches a lot of horror, I feel desensitized to most things, but this genuinely scared me. I felt like a weight of something indescribably sinister, dragging my body down where I had my legs up to my chest and held onto them in the theater, convincing myself to relax. What struck me most about Longlegs is how it delves into the impact that family dynamics can have on a child. The film's mechanics effectively show how often children become vessels for unresolved darkness within their families. Perkins crafts a narrative rich in atmosphere and suspense, drawing inspiration from iconic thrillers while forging its path of psychological mystery. The film's attention to detail and the unsettling characters add layers of depth, navigating themes of family and the supernatural. Longlegs leaves a lasting impression by delving into human darkness, and the impact family bonds can have on us. Through its storytelling, standout performances, and thought-provoking themes, Longlegs lives up to the hype and invites audiences to confront an unsettling mystery of the haunting human psyche, solidifying a well-deserved place in the horror genre. 

Written By Daniel Rojas   

Cinematic Hush! Tip Toeing into A Quiet Place Day One

The A Quiet Place franchise continues to impress as this film forges new territory by taking the audience back to the beginning of the alien invasion that told the word to STFU! Much like its predecessors, A Quiet Place: Day One is a tense thriller with much heart. This film features more dialogue than previous entries, given that it shows the hours just before a meteor shower brings the deadly predators, Death Angels. The majority of the plot and character development is advanced sans characters speaking. It is impressive how tense this movie makes sound and how well the performances of our two leads invests one in the outcome of their journey.

Not connecting with the prior two movies set in remote parts of the United States, this film is set in a densely populated city with millions on the small island of Manhattan.  This creates an interesting scenario as the Death Angles are not able to leave Manhattan due to their inability to swim, as we learned in A Quiet Place II, and any living soul trapped on this island is silently screwed with all bridges down.

The film shows joint star power by Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn, giving intense emotional performances and beautiful chemistry. Despite minimal dialogue and a tiny cast, they both sell terror and drama, making memorable sequences and moments that add some light humor, a natural human way to cope with all the violence throughout the film. Of course, I can't forget to mention the real star of this movie, Frodo. Frodo is a cute black-and-white bundle of joy and stress throughout the film. This cat practically steals the show, and audiences will connect to the cat just as much as our leads.  

Director Michael Sarnoski had a challenging task to take from the previous films but also came up with a fresh perspective. His style is highly admirable, considering the much larger scale and in a different setting. Luckily, I was able to experience the film in IMAX and took impressive shots. The cinematography does a great job of presenting the storytelling that this series is known for. The loud projection of IMAX made the theater silent; no one got up to go to the bathroom, and no one ate loudly; it was almost like we all thought the monsters would come through the walls. Overall, I believe that is because Michale Sarnoksi can showcase an atmosphere of suspense, intensity, and death. 

One theme from the film is that we don't give many things in life much thought because we take them for granted. These items make us happy and unite humans instead of focusing on individualism. It may be as easy as sharing a drink with someone, taking a walk, listening to music, or, in this case, Lupita’s character indulging in a few pieces of her favorite pizza from her childhood for the last time. It’s something she shared with her family before their demise and shows this depth of the character where the movie shines emotionally. Showing a real human narrative increases awareness of what we currently have in our lives. My take on this terrifying and dramatic story is that it makes the most of our short time on this Earth, and it focuses partially on the importance of human connection. 

Written by Daniel Rojas